Agenda Item No.6
THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN COUNCIL
CABINET MEETING: 18 APRIL 2007
REPORT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
MAKING THE CONNECTIONS: WELSH AUDIT OFFICE
ASSESSMENT
Purpose of Report
1. To update
Members on progress in regard to the Making the Connections
agenda.
Background
2. As reported previously to
Cabinet, the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) published a
consultation document in October 2004 entitled ‘Making the
Connections: Delivering Better Services for Wales’. This was
followed by the publication of ‘Delivering the Connections: From
Vision to Action’ in June 2005 and ‘Making the Connections:
Delivering Beyond Boundaries’ in November
2006.
Relevant Issues and Options
3. A recent
assessment was made by the Wales Audit Office (WAO) of how
effectively the Council was implementing the Making the Connections
agenda to deliver better public services. The broad
conclusion of WAO was that:
‘The Vale of Glamorgan is currently making
good progress in implementing the Making the Connections agenda and
has created a momentum for change that augurs well for future
progress’.
4.
Making the Connections embraces four themes, namely:
·
Working together as the Welsh Public Service
·
Making better use of resources
·
Putting the citizen at the centre to improve customer service and
public engagement
·
Engaging the workforce
5. Each theme is
assessed by WAO in terms of four ‘descriptors’ which are:
·
Aware: ‘The Council recognised the key issues to be
addressed but currently few approaches have been developed to
address them’.
·
Developing: ‘The Council is aware of key issues with
emerging approaches to address them, though with little
implementation so far’.
·
Practising: ‘The Council has well developed plans to address
key issue, with significant implementation’.
·
Leading: ‘The Council can show clear evidence of good
practice which can be shared and is further developing its approach
to ensure sustainability’.
6. The assessment by WAO was that
this Council is currently at the ‘developing’ stage for Working
Together and Preparing the Workforce, and at the ‘leading’ stage
for Customer Service and Public Engagement. A summary of the
WAO report is appended for Members information.
7. Resource Implications
(financial and employment)
8. None directly.
Legal Implications (to include Human Rights
implications)
9. None directly.
Crime and Disorder Implications
10. None directly.
Equal Opportunities Implications (to
include Welsh Language issues)
11. Central to the Welsh Assembly
Government approach is ensuring that public services are accessible
to all, particularly those who are hardest to reach.
Corporate/Service Objectives (to include
stakeholder consultation and voluntary sector implications)
12. In promoting a partnership approach
to service delivery, Making the Connections supports the community
leadership role of this and other local authorities.
Policy Framework and Budget
13. This report is a matter for
Executive decision by the Cabinet.
Consultation
13. No external consultation
specific to this report.
Scrutiny Committee
14. All.
RECOMMENDATION
That Cabinet considers the progress made.
Reasons for recommendation
In order to apprise Members of recent progress
in relation to Making the Connections.
Background Papers
Contact
Officer:
Huw Isaac,
Head of Performance and Development (01446
709760)
Officers
Consulted:
Corporate Management Team